Donations, need continue to grow for Schaumburg assistance fund
The village of Schaumburg's Community Assistance Fund has received another $1,575 in donations since April 4, but the increased need for help during the COVID-19 pandemic shows no sign of ending soon, officials say.
Since the village made its first appeal for donations on March 27, a total of $5,825 has been added to the fund, Schaumburg's Supervisor of Human Services Kristin Jordan said.
Overseen by the social workers operating out of the village's police department, the fund's intention has been to assist crime victims and members of Schaumburg's more vulnerable populations. Since the pandemic, the latter category has become more broadly defined than ever before, Jordan said.
Among the examples are seniors for whom it's no longer safe to go out and are in need of grocery deliveries, and people experiencing homelessness whose situations have grown even worse with the closing of the area's PADS shelters.
What the Community Assistance Fund can do for homeless people right now is provide sleeping bags as protection against the lingering winter cold, as well as vouchers and gift cards for area restaurants that have remained open for pick up.
Administrators of the assistance fund also are working more closely with the village's nursing and seniors services division than ever before, Jordan said.
While the Community Assistance Fund is a legacy of Motorola's decadeslong stay in Schaumburg, residents elsewhere are starting similar initiatives in their own communities. Only a few weeks ago, Palatine citizens created "Helping Neighbors Around Palatine" to assist those who face nonemergency daily challenges.
Volunteers or Palatine residents in need can call HNAP at (224) 801-4265 or email PalatineNeighbor@gmail.com. Or they can visit the HNAP Facebook group at facebook.com/groups/HelpingNeighborsAroundPalatine/ to apply for help, volunteer or reach HNAP's GoFundMe page.
For more information on or to donate to Schaumburg's Community Assistance Fund, call (847) 348-7396 or visit its page on the village's website.